Table structure and method of producing the same



Feb. 20, 1940. w LE 2,191,168

TABLE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME Filed June 4, 1938Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,191,168 I a a TABLE STRUCTURE ANDMETHOD or PRODUCING THE :SAMEP William Hanley, East Orange, N. J.,assignor to Ferguson Brothers Manufacturing Company,

,Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 4, 1938,Serial No. 211,723

3 Claims. (01. an- 106) This invention relates to a table structure andmethod of producing the same with especial reference to the top thereof,and is particularly adaptable to relatively light folding tablessuitedfor games, such as cards, as well as general utility. l An object of theinvention is to provide a top w structure which is of comparativelyelegant and massive appearance while being, at the same time, extremelylight, simple, and economical in structure.

Another object is to provide a top which is composed of a single pieceof very thin material, such as wood, and yet is adapted to receive to asuitable depth the tucked in. edges of a flexible cover in order tofirmly and neatly hold the latter in position.

Another object consists in providing such a thin top that is suitablybraced against warping, undue deflection or breakage. 1

Another object consists in providing an improved folding leg structure,with particular reference to its union with the top frame, wherebystrength and rigidity are enhanced.

A further object consists in providing further improvements in thematerial, form, construction and arrangement of the several partswherebythe above named and other objects may effectively. be obtained.

A practical embodiment'of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawing, in which i Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of aable with the legs in folded position; i

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged detail section, taken substantially in theplane of the line II-II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrows, but with a leg shown in unfolded position;

Fig. 3 represents a detail sideelevation, on the same scale as Fig. 2,partly in section, to show the means of attaching the legs to the topframe;

and v i Fig. 4 represents a detail bottom plan view, partly in section,of the portion of the table shown in Fig. 3. r

As illustrated, the table top frame is square, and is composed of fourside members I, 2, 3, 4 that are of conventional form and suitablyunited at the corners in any approved manner. In order to provide ahandsome appearance, these side frames are relatively deep andornamented on their outer surfaces.

The table top proper consists of a very thin slab or sheet 5 that ispreferably composed of the cover is set forth in U. S. Patent No.1,544,289 issued June 30, 1925, upon the application of the top 5 andinto the subframe members.

, the upper edges of the frame members I, 2, 3, 4,

although it may be composed of imitation wood, varius types of fiberboard, or other available material according to the preference of themanufacturer or the dictates of his trade.

The top 5 has a suitable flexible cover 6, com- 5 posed of any suitablematerial, such as imitation leather, stretched tightly thereon, with itsedges adhesively secured in grooves, as indicated at in Fig. 2. Thismethod of securing the edges of Andrew Wagner, so that it is not deemednecessary to explain the same other than to state that the grooves orkerfs for'receiving the edges of a the cover may be supplied with asuitable adhesive, such as glue, and the cover edges then tucked thereinuntil the cover itself is drawn tight.

In this method of fastening the cover edges, it is necessary that thegrooves or kerfs be of"20 sumcient depth to exert a firm gripping actionupon the cover and, in view of the very thin character of the top 5, Ihave solved this problem by securing to the under side of the said top asubframe which is composed of four parts erranged in square formation,two opposite parts being marked 8 and the other two 9. These framemembersare preferably composed of light strips of suitable wood and areadhesively sethat the top proper 5 is first provided in suitable size.The subframe parts or members are next placed in position and secured,as by glue, to the under side of the top 5. The kerfs or grooves I arethereafter out completely through The flexible cover 6 isthen placed inposition and its edges secured in the said kerfs or grooves. Thereafterthe top, thus constructed, is fastened to for which purpose I alsoprefer to use an adhesive in order to eliminate any unsightly mechanicalfastening devices. However, nails, screws, etc., may be used if desired,and may have their heads covered in any approved manner, or ornamentalnails may be employed should occasion demand.

It will be observed that the margin of the top 5 exterior to theflexible cover 6 is comparatively wide, and this, together with thesubstantial. 55

height of the frame members I, 2, 3, 4, imparts a handsome and somewhatmassive appearance to the table, in spite of the fact that the top andframe members are, in reality, very light so that the table may beeasily handled.

Four foldable legs are secured to the top frame members and, as the saidlegs are identical, it will be sufficient to describe a single one whichmay be denoted bylll. The leg l0 itself is of any well known or approvedform and size and may suitably be composed of wood. Its inner end isconcaved, as indicated at H in Fig. 3, to receive a cylindricalcrosshead l2 that is secured to the leg by a screw IS. The crosshead hasa trunnion M at one end thereof which'is received in a complementaryrecess formed in frame member l, and the other end of the crosshead isheld in position by a screw l5 that passes through a small angle ironsupport l6, fastened to frame member I by a screw IT. The trunnion l4and screw l5 serve as pivots for the crosshead [2 in order to permit theusual swinging motion of the leg during unfolding and folding.

A reinforcing strut l8, preferably composed of metal, has one endlocated between angle member l6 and crosshead l2; where it is held inpo--.

sition by screw 15 passing therethrough; and its other end fixed to theside of leg ID by a screw l9. This strut serves to 'reinforc'e'thc leg10 against side sway from the'position shown in Fig. 2, and it alsoassists the union of theleg and crosshead l2. A locking brace 2e, forholding the leg in open position, is also preferably composed of metaland 1 has one end pivoted to the frame member 4 by a screw or the like 2I, this pivotpoint being located a short distance from the pivot pointof crosshead H2 in the'direction of the swing of the leg..

The other end of brace 20 is slidable'ina yoke 22 that is pivoted to theside of leg Ill by a screw The yoke carries a leaf spring 24 that hasends channeled to bear upon an edge of the brace 20 and urge it intocontact with pivot screw 23.

A The edge of the brace 20 that slides in contact with the said pivotscrew has a notch 25 formed therein which engages the said screw whenthe leg is in unfolded operative-position so that the brace thus servesto hold the leg in said position' against accidental folding. A stop 26formed on brace 20 limits the sliding movement ofthe'brace in the yoke22 during the; opening or unfolding compression against spring 24, andthen. swing the leg to its folded position within the table tends toprevent undue wear or marking.

When folded, the legs lie within the boundaries of the table frame, andthe particular structure whereby the legs are secured and braced lendsitself admirably to this type of table.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in thematerial, form, construction and arrangement of the several partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence Ido not intend to be limited to the details herein shown and describedexceptas they may be included in the claims.

What I claim is: v

1. .A method of producing a table top comprising, providing a :topframe, providing a thin top therefor, securing a reinforcing frame tothe underside of said top, cutting through the top and into thereinforcing frame to form a peripheral groove, laying aflexible cover onthe top, securing the edges of the cover in said groove in thereinforcing frame, and securing the completed top to the top frame.

2. A table top comprising, a relatively thin slab,

-a relatively thick reinforcing frame secured to the under side of theslab within and substantially parallel to its edges, a groove formedthrough the slab and into the said frame, and a flexible covering laidupon the slab with itsedges passing through the groove in the slab andentering and being secured in the groove in the said frame.

3. A table top comprising, a relatively thin slab of'relatively heavymaterial, a relatively thick reinforcing frame of relatively lightmaterial secured to the under side of the slab within and substantiallyparallel to its edges, a grooveformed through the slab and extending ina straight line into the said frame, and a flexible covering laid uponthe slab with its edges passing through the groove in the slab andentering and being secured in that part of the groove which extendsinto,

the said frame, whereby the'covering is held by and exerts its tensionupon the said frame rather than upon the slab, andthe table top has aheavy and massive appearance while actually being light in weight. g

. WILLIAM

